Drying kiln



} June 23,1925.

J. M. SEYMOUR nnyme KILN Filed Feb. 8, 1924 2 Siaeets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR. cIzmesMZsywaug A no??? June23, 1925.-

' r J. M. SEYMOUR DRYING KILN Filed Feb. 8, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

I BY 4) W ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 23, 1925.

UNITED STATES JAMES M. SEYMOUR, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

DRYING IKILN.

' Application filed lebruary 8, 1924. Serial No. 691,367.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. SEYMOUR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drying Kilns; and I do hereby declare the following to he a. full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates, generally, to an improved construction of drying kiln; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of drying kiln having special features adapted to conserve heat and prevent losses of heat by radiation, without necessitating the use of fragile and expensive heat insulation material; and which, by reason of such heat conservation and prevention of heat losses by radiation, requires the expenditure of comparatively little fuel in maintaining the desired temperature within the kiln when operating the same.

The ordinary drying kiln is usually built with brick walls and wooden partitions, or metal construction, covered with asuitable heat insulation material such as magnesia, asbestos, or the like. Notwithstanding such precautions against loss of heat, there is generally a. very considerable. radiation of heat from a large drying kiln having ex posed surfaces, which frequently aggregates many hundreds of square feet of radiating surface, and which consequently entails a considerable heat loss, involving a resultant loss in fuel economy. In ordinary drying kilns there is also some provision made for introducing air into the interior thereof, circulating the same therein, and discharging the same therefrom so as to keep down the humidity and remove gases or vapours. The entering air is comparatively cool and further heat energy is expended in bringing the entering air up to to the required temperature desired to be maintained in the drying kiln. Besides the loss of heat from the above stated causes, the radiated heat becomes anuisance, and renders the atmosphere of the room or vicinity wherein the kiln is located unduly oppressive.

It is the object of this invention to provide a novel construction of drying kiln which obviates the difiiculties and. objections above noted, and in which undue radiation of heat is not only prevented, but by means of which heat tending to escape by radiation is conserved and returned to the lnterior of the kiln in connection with the introduction and circulation of air within the latter.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

With the various objects of this invention in view, the same consists, primarily, in the novel construction of drying kiln hereinafter set forth; and, the invention consists, furthermore, in the several novel arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction thereof, all of which will be hereafter more fully described, and then fina11y embodied in the claims which are appended hereto.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a part si e elevation and part onlgitudinal section showing a drying kiln ma e accordin to and embodying the principles of this invention; and Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section, taken on line 2-'-2 in said Figure 1, said viewbeing drawn on a slightly enlarged scale.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to said drawings, the drying kiln is made up of side walls and a roof of special construction. Each side wall comp-rises a frame consistingpf a sill 1, a plate member 2, and a series of vertical and longitudinally spaced apart studs 3. Said frame thus constructed may be made up in a suitable length corresponding to the length of the drying kiln it is desired to erect. Said frame is covered on its outer side with an outer skin or Wall member 4, which is preferably made of sheet metal; and is also covered on its inner side with an inner skin or wall member 5, which is also preferably made of sheet metal. The roof of the kiln, which is connected with and which extends betweenthe upper edges of the side walls, also comprises a frame consisting of longitudinal string-pieces 6,

which are respectively suitabl secured to the, plate-members 2 of the si e walls, and between which extend transverse horizontal rafter members 7, which are longitudinally spaced apart in correspondence with and coincident to the studs 3 of said side walls. Said roof frame thus constructed is also covered on its outer or upper side with an of the Walls to the top of the same; said passages or ducts being disposed intermediate the studs 3 and outer and inner skins or.

wall members 4 and 5. In like manner, the

roof construction provides a plurality of horizontal internal passages or ducts 11 extending transversely from one side wall to the opposite side wall; said passages or ducts 11 being disposed intermediate the rafter members 7 and upper and lower skins or wall members 8 and 9. It is preferable, when erecting the structure, to so arrange the elements thereof that the passages or ducts 11 are alined respectively to correspond with the respective passages or ducts 10.

. The outer skin or wall member 4 of each side wall is provided with air intake openings o-r ports 12 adjacent to the lower ends of and respectively communicating or leading into the respective passages or ducts 10. In like manner, the inner skin or wall member 5 of each side wall is provided with air discharge openings or ports 13 adjacent to the upper ends of and respectively leading out of the respective passages or ducts 10.

The inner skin or wall member 9 of the roof structure is provided with air intake openings or ports 14: adjacent to each end of and communicating or leading respectively into the opposite ends of the respective passages or ducts 11. Said inner skin or wall member 9 of the roof structure is further provided with air discharge openings or ports 15 leading out of each passage or duct 11, from points intermediate the ends thereof, into the interior of the kiln.

The air discharge openings or ports 13 of the passages or ducts 10 of each side wall are connected in communication with the air intake openings or ports 14: of corresponding passages or ducts 11 of the roof structure by means of intermediate connecting passages or ducts 16, which may be formed by elbow pipes 17, or in any other manner or by any means found suitable or convenient.

It'is usually desirable to provide a disthe kiln with means for or ports 15. produce a negative or suction directly above 1 charge or vent means communicating with and leading out of the interior of the kiln. This discharge or vent means may be in the form of a vent pipe 18 as shownin the drawings, which passes through a side wall of the kiln, so as to lead outwardly from the interior of the latter. Suction may be induced in said vent pipe 18 .by any well known means, such as a connection with a draught flue or chimney, or by connection with an exhaust 'fan, or otherwise.

In most instances it is desired to provide rotating or circulating the air admitted to the kiln interior, so as to bring the same many times in contact with the material placed in the kiln to be dried. For such purpose, I provide a plurality or gang of horizontal rotatable air circulating fans 19, suitably spaced apart throughout the length of the kiln, and situated beneath the roof structure in such 10- cations that their negative or suction sides are adjacent to the air discharge openings These fans when operating them in the top of the kiln thereby causing the air tobe drawn out of the passages or ducts 11- of the roof structure and consequently sucked upwardly through the passages or ducts 10 of the side walls into the passages or ducts 11 of said roof structure, thus not only producing a revolving motion of a comparatively large bulk or volume of air within the kiln interior, but at the same time inducing outside air to enter the kiln through the side wall and roof passages or ducts 10 and 11, whereby a constant moving current of air is caused to travel through the latter. The air circulating fans 19 may be mounted and driven in any manner or by any power transmission means found suitable or convenient. For example, as shown in the drawings, each fan 19 is mounted on a vertical shaft 20 which extends upwardly through the roof structure, being rotatably journaled in a suitable bearing 21 supported on the roof-structure. The upper or outer end of each shaft 20 is provided with a bevel gear 22. Extending longitudinally above the kiln is a drive shaft'23, supported in suitable shaft-hangers or bearings 24.

Fixed on said drive shaft of driver bevel gears 25, which respectively mesh with the respective bevel gears 22 of the fan shafts The driver shaft 23 may be provided witha pulley 26 over which runs a drive belt 27 operated from any suitable source of power.

Arranged along the inner sides of the kiln are steam pipes 28 to provide the heating the kiln interior to the'desired degree.

The material to be dried may be handled and arranged within the kiln interior beneath the air circulating fans in any man 23 are a plurality means for raising the temperature of' ner found expedient. For example, assume that the material to be treated comprises varnished hides 29 which are desired to be suspended within the kiln; in such case the interior sides of the walls of the kiln are provided with suitable brackets 30 for supporting longitudinally running conveyer chains 31. The hides 29 are then suspended on cross bars 32 which extend between and are supported at their ends upon said conveyer chains 31. Ordinarily the kiln is built in the form of a tunnel of suitable length, and the wet hides are loaded on the ('onveyer at one end, so as to move slowly therethrough and out of the opposite end, where the same may be unloaded from the conveyer. The time of travel of the conveyer is so related to the length of the kiln, as to assure that the hides will be properly dried by the time they reach the exit end of said kiln.

In connection with drying kilns having air circulating means, it is frequently advisable to provide some means for freeing the ingoing air from dust, and also to attain more or less humidification of the ingoing air. In connection with the novel kiln construction made according to and embodying the principles of this invention, I have provided means to serve such purpose, which may consist of a water trough 33 which is affixed to the outer sides of the kiln walls adjacent to the air intake openings or ports 12, and across which the air must pass before entering the passages or ducts 10 and 11 leading into the kiln interior. Said water troughs may be provided with hinged cover sections 34 having openings 35 for the admission of the outside air. It will be understood, that various modifications of the air cleansing and humidifying means may be made, and that I do not claim such apparatus in detail, nor do I limit myself entirely to the use of such apparatus in combination with my novel kiln construction, for I may omit the use of such apparatus entirely if desired.

From the above description of my novel kiln construction, it will be readily understood, that no artificial insulation material or heat resist-ant material such as magnesia, asbestos, etc., is required to be used and that a resultant saving in cost of the kiln, both initially and as to lip-keep, is effected, to say nothing of the increased efficiency and economy in fuel consumption which I attain by my novel construction. It will be plainly seen that as the ingoing air passes into the passages or ducts 10 of the side walls, and thence into the passages or ducts 11 of the roof structure, it is confined in the space between the outer and inner skins or wall members of said side walls and roof, and its flow is controlled in upwardly passing streams through the side walls. It will be understood that the inner skin or wall members of both the sides and roof of the kiln will be heated by the high temperature within the kiln interior, and will tend to radiate away such heat. The ingoing air streams, however, intercept and take up the heat units thus radiating from the inner skins or wall members, and the ingoing air thus absorbs the heat and causes the latter to be returned into the interior of the kiln with the former, thus not only conserving heat by preventing undue transfer thereof to the outer skin or wall members, with consequent losses by radiation therefrom, but actually returning a large proportion of the heat units tending to escape into the kiln interior for work. Another advantage of the novel construction involved in this invention, is that the spacing apart of the studs and rafters of the side wall and roof structure at intervals of about one foot provides a plurality of air passages which so control the air movement, that the same moves steadily and uniformly upward and across to the openings or orts which discharges the same into the kiln interior, and consequently the air movement does not tend to lag or spread so that there is sufficient time for any appreciable heating up of the outside skin or wall members of the structure. The arrangement of the side wall and roof frames involved in the spaced studs and rafters which produce the plurality of substantially direct ingoing air passages, also possesses the advantage of affording a practical unit basis of construction, so that kilns of any desired length may be constructed at a minimum cost by merely increasing or decreasing the number of unit spaces or passages, and as a further result the movement of air will be substantially as uniform at any given point in the length of the kiln as it is at any other point thereof.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, without departing from the scope of this invention as set forth in the foregoing specification, and as defined in the claims appended hereto. IIence, I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the devices and parts as described in said specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the con struction of said parts as illustrated in the ing with the outer atmosphere at one end of each air passage, and the lnner member of said double wall having air discharge ports communicating with the kiln interior at the opposite end of each air passage.

2. A drying kiln comprising a double enclosing wall, the members of which are separated to provide an intermedlate space, means subdividing said intermediate space into a plurality of substantially direct air passages, the outer member of sa1d double wall having air intake ports communicating with the outer atmosphere at one end of each air passage, the inner member of said double wall having air discharge ports communicating with the kiln interior at the opposite end of each a1r passa ge, and a r cleansing means cooperating with said air intake ports.

3. A drying kiln comprislng side walls and a roof structure interconnecting the upper ends of said side walls, said side walls having a plurality of cont guous but independent vertical internal air passages, sald roof structure having a plurality of contiguous but independent transverse internal air passages respectively alined w th corresponding air passages of opposite slde walls, means of communication between corresponding side wall air passages and roof air passages, said side walls having air 1ntake ports respectively affording commumcation between the outer atmosphere and the lower ends of the respective internal air passages thereof, and said roof structure having air discharge ports respectively affording communication between the interlor of said kiln and the intermediate portions of the respective internal air passages thereof.

4. A drying kiln comprising side walls and a roof structure interconnecting the upper ends of said side walls, said side walls having a plurality of contiguous but Independent vertical internal air passages, said roof structure having a plurality of contiguous but independent transverse internal air passages respectively alined with corresponding air passages of opposite side walls, means of communication between corresponding side wall air passages and roof air passages, said side walls having air 1ntake ports respectively aflording commun1 cation between the outer atmosphere and the lower ends of the respective internal air passages thereof, said roof structure having air discharge ports respectively affordlng communication between the interior of said kiln and the intermediate portions of the respective internal air passages thereof, and air circulating means within the upper portion of said kiln having the negative or suction side thereof opposed to said air discharge ports.

5. A drying kiln comprising side walls and a roof structure interconnecting the upper ends of said side walls, said side walls having a plurality of contiguous but independentvertical internal air passages, said roof structure having a plurality of contiguous but independent transverse internal air passages respectively alined with corresponding air passages of opposite side walls, means of communication between corresponding side wall air passages and roof air passages, said side walls having air intake ports respectively affording communication between the outer atmosphere and the lower ends of the respective internal air passages thereof, said roof structure having air discharge ports respectively affording communication between the interior of said kiln and the intermediate portions of the respective internal air passages thereof, and air cleansing means cooperating with said air intake ports.

6. A drying kiln comprising side walls and a roof structure interconnecting the upper ends of said side walls, said side walls having a plurality of contiguous but independent vertical internal air passages, said roof structure having a plurality of contiguous but independent transverse internal air passages respectively alined with corresponding air passages of oppostie side walls, means of communication between corresponding side wall air passages and roof air passages, said side walls having air intake ports respectively affording communication between the outer atmosphere and the lower ends of the respective internal air passages thereof, said roof structure having air discharge ports respectively affording communication between the interior of said kiln and the intermediate portions of the respective internal air passages thereof, air circulating means within the upper portion of said kiln having the negative or suction side thereof opposed to said air discharge ports, and air cleansing means cooperating with said air intake ports.

7. A drying kiln comprising a double enclosing wall the members of which are separated to provide an intermediate space, means subdividing saidintermediate space into a plurality of substantially direct air passages, the outer member of said double wall having air intake ports communicating with the outer atmosphere at one end of each air passage, the inner member of said double wall having air discharge ports communicating with the kiln interior at the opposite end of each air passage, and air circu ating means within said kiln having the negative or suction side thereof opposed to said air discharge ports.

8. A drying kiln comprising a double enclosing wall the members of which are separated to provide an intermediate space, means subdividing said intermediate space into a plurality of substantially direct air passages, the outer member of said double wall having air intake ports communicating with the outer atmosphere at one end of each air passage, the inner member of said double wall having air discharge ports'communicating with the kiln interior at the opposite end of each air passage, air circulatlng means within said kiln having the negative or suction side thereof opposed to said air discharge ports, and air cleansing means cooperating with said air intake ports.

9. A drying kiln comprising side wall frames provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart vertical studs, a roof frame provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart transverse rafters, an inner wall covering and an outer Wall covering respectively secured upon opposite sides of said side wall frames to thereby enclose a plurality of independent internal vertical air passages intermediate said studs, an inner roof covering and an outer roof covering respectively secured upon opposite sides of said roof frame to thereby enclose a plurality of independent internal transverse air passages intermediate said rafters, means of communication between the upper ends of said vertical air passages and the outer ends of corresponding transverse air passages, said outer wall covering having air intake ports respectively affording communication between the outer atmosphere and the lower ends of the respective vertical air passages, and said inner roof covering having air discharge ports respectively afiording communication between the interior of said kiln and the intermediate portions of the respective transverse air pas sages.

10. A drying kiln comprising side wall frames provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart vertical studs, a roof frame provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart transverse rafters, an inner wall covering and an outer wall coverin respectively secured upon opposite sides of said side wall frames to thereby enclose a plurality of independent internal vertical air passages intermediate said studs, an inner roof covering and an outer roof covering respectively secured upon-opposite sides of said roof frame to thereby enclose a plurality of independent internal transverse air passages intermediate said rafters, means of communication between the upper ends of said vertical air passages and the outer ends of corresponding transverse air passages, said outer wall covering having air intake ports respectively aflording communication between the outer atmosphere and the lower ends of the respective vertical air passages, said inner roof covering having air discharge ports respectively affording communication between the interior of said kiln and the intermediate portions of the res ective transverseair passages, air circulating means within the upper portion of said kiln havin the negative or suction side thereof oppose to said air discharge ports.

11. A drying kiln comprising side wall frames provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart vertical studs, a roof frame provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart transverse rafters, an nner'wall covering and an outer wall covermg respectively secured upon opposite sides of said side wall frames to thereby enclose a plurality of independent internal vertical air passages intermediate said studs, an 1n ner roof covering and an outer roof covering respectively secured upon opposite s des of said roof frame to thereby enclose a plurality of independent internal transverse alr passages intermediate said rafters, means of communication between the upper ends of said vertical air passages and the outer ends of corresponding transverse air passages, said outer Wall covering having air intake ports respectively affording communication between the outer atmosphere and the lower ends of the respective vertical air passages, said inner roof covering having air discharge ports respectively afiording communication between the interior of said kiln and the intermediate portions of the respective transverse air passages, air circulating means within the upper portion of said kiln having the negative or suction side thereof op osed to said air discharge ports, and air cleansing means cooperating with said air intake ports.

12. A drying kiln comprising side wall frames provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart vertical studs, a roof frame provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart transverse rafters, an inner wall covering and an outer wall covering respectively secured upon opposite sides of said side wall frames to thereby enclose a plurality of independent internal vertical air passages intermediate said studs, an inner roof covering and an outer roof covering respectively secured upon opposite sides of said roof frame to thereby enclose a plurality of independent internal transverse air passages intermediate said rafters, means of communication between the upper ends of said vertical air passages and the outer ends of corresponding transverse air passages, said outer wall covering having air intake ports respectively affording communication between the outer atmosphere and the lower ends of the respective vertical air assages, said inner roof covering having air discharge ports respectively affording communication between the interior'ofsaid kiln and the intermediate portions of the respective transverse air passages, and air cleansing means co-operating with said air intake ports.

13. A drying kiln provided with double side walls and double interconnecting roof structure internally subdivided to provide a plurality of contiguous but independent air passages leading upwardly through the side walls and across the roof structure, said side walls having air intake ports respectively affording communication between the outer atmosphere and the ends of said air passages, and said roof structure having air discharge ports leading out of each air passage into the interior of said kiln.

14. A drying kiln provided with double side walls and double interconnecting roof structure internally subdivided to provide a plurality of contiguous but independent air passages leading upwardly through the side walls and across the roof structure, said side walls having air intake ports respectively aflording communication between the outer atmosphere and the ends of said air passages, and said roof structure having air discharge ports leading out of each air passage into the interior of said kiln, air circulating means within the upper portion of said kiln having the negative or suction side thereof opposed to said air discharge ports.

15. A drying kiln provided with double side walls and double interconnecting roof structure internally subdivided to provide a plurality of contiguous but independent air passages leading upwardly through the side walls and across the roof structure, said side walls having air intake ports respectively affording communication between the outer atmosphere and the ends of said air passages, and said roof structure having air discharge ports leading out of each air passage into t 1e interior of said kiln, air circulating means within the upper portion of said kiln having the negative or suction side thereof opposed to said air discharge ports, and air cleansing means cooperating with said air intake ports.

16. A drying kiln provided with double side walls and double interconnecting roof structure internally subdivided to provide a plurality of contiguous but independent air passages leading upwardly through the side walls and across the roof structure, said side walls having air intake ports respectively affording communication between the outer atmosphere and the ends of said air passages, and said roof structure having air discharge ports leading out of each air passage into the interior of said kiln, and air cleansing means cooperating with said air intake ports.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereto set my hand this 6th day of February, 1924.

JAMES M. SEYMOUR.

Witnesses:

FRED D. FRAEN'I'ZEL, EVA E. Dnscn. 

